Where are Colorado's Dental Deserts?

Health policy changes mean that more than 130,000 Coloradans enrolled in Medicaid will gain dental insurance next year – some for the first time. This is good news on the oral health front. But is Colorado ready to meet these additional dental demands?

A study released yesterday by the Colorado Health Institute finds that many of the Colorado Medicaid enrollees who will gain dental benefits over the next two years will not have ready access to dental services. The report, titled “More Dental Insurance: Enough Dental Care? A Supply and Demand Analysis of Colorado’s Medicaid Program,” analyzes whether the state will have an adequate dental workforce to care for the expected influx of low-income Coloradans with dental insurance. The full report answers questions like:

• Will there be enough dentists?
• Will there be enough dentists who accept Medicaid? 
• Where will providers be needed the most? 
• Which regions will be “hot spots” pairing substantial growth in Medicaid enrollment with limited Medicaid dental access?

Visit the Colorado Health Institute website for more information.